A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bali vs. Puerto Princesa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bali or Puerto Princesa?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bali and Puerto Princesa can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bali or Puerto Princesa?

Bali

Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.

Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.

Puerto Princesa

The island of Palawan is known the Philippines' last frontier and its capital, Puerto Princesa, is considered the greenest city in the Philippines. With plenty of land that has yet to be explored and inundated with tourists, Puerto Princesa, also known as "The City of the Living God," is a nature buff's dream. Whether you want to swim with starfish, walk among the mangrove treetops, or visit the world's largest saltwater crocodile at the Palawan Nature Conservation Center, Puerto Princesa and its surrounding area offers plenty of opportunities to get into the great wide open.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Princesa or Bali?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $85, while the average daily cost in Puerto Princesa is $86. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bali and Puerto Princesa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bali $40
    Puerto Princesa $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bali $80
    Puerto Princesa $48
Compare Hotels in Bali and Puerto Princesa

Looking for a hotel in Bali or Puerto Princesa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Bali


Hotels in Puerto Princesa


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bali Hotel Prices and Puerto Princesa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bali $8.68
    Puerto Princesa $51
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:


  • Motorbike Rental
    $2.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:

  • Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Denpasar HTL-APT(DPS) : $8.88
  • Traditional Balinese Massage with Hotel Transfer: $50
  • Ride Bali ATV Adventure Ticket And Transfer: $34
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bali Airport: $32
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Denpasar International Airport to Nusa Dua Area: $15
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Bali Airport to Hotel: $32
  • Nusa Dua Departure transfer to Bali Airport International (DPS): $13
  • LuxMe Bali Four Hands massage with Hotel Transfer: $58
  • Fast Boat Transfers between Bali and Lombok: $48
  • Denpasar Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $25
  • Bali to/from Gili Air: Fast Boat with Optional Bali Transfer: $48
  • Bali Water Sport : Sea Walker,Donut Boat and Banana Boat with Hotel Transfers: $72

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Princesa

Also for Puerto Princesa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shared Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $7.29
  • Transfers to/from Port Barton: $14
  • Puerto Princesa:El Nido – Shared Van Transfer: $15
  • One-Way Transfer To/From El Nido: $16
  • Shared Transfer Puerto Princesa/Port Barton: $17
  • Transfer to/from Puerto Princesa and El Nido: $17
  • Transfer between Puerto Princesa and El Nido: $18
  • Airport Transfers airport to city center hotel and cruise port: $20
  • Private Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $22
  • Relaxing Massage with optional transfers: $24
  • Puerto Princesa City Van Transfers: $24
  • Honda Bay Island: Island Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $53

Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or Puerto Princesa?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Princesa and Bali change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bali $34
    Puerto Princesa $34
Typical Food Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:


  • Coffee
    $1.19
  • Lunch for Two
    $13
  • Bali Cafe for Two
    $26
  • Lunch for Two
    $7.75
  • Lunch for 2
    $8.59
  • Dinner for 2
    $9.42

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.

  • Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset jimbaran Beach: $36
  • Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran: $40
  • South Bali Beach Tour, Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Fire Dance & Seafood Barbeque Dinner: $50
  • Kekeb Cooking Class at Nusa Dua: $55
  • Bali Famous Beach, Kecak Dance, Uluwatu Temple, Sunset, Dinner: $65
  • Bali Street Food Tour: $65
  • Sidemen Cooking Class: $77
  • Pure Bali Village Experience, Cooking & Jamu Class+VIP Transfer: $89

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Princesa

For Puerto Princesa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Firefly Watching Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner: $27
  • Jungle Firefly Watching Boat Tour & Dinner: $33
  • Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner: $35
  • Firefly Watching with Dinner: $40
  • Firefly Watching Tour with Dinner: $55
  • Seafood Lunch or Dinner with transfers: $60
  • Underground River with Dinner at Kalui: $82
  • Underground River and Firefly Watching with Dinner: $89
  • Balayong People's Park with Dinner and Show: $119

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bali $10
    Puerto Princesa $6.77
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:


  • Spa for Two
    $52
  • Snorkelling Trip
    $12
  • Cooking School
    $27

Tours and Activities in Bali

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:

  • Bali Telaga Waja White Water Rafting Adventure : $55
  • Legendary Scenic Spots Of Nusa Penida Private Guided Day Tour: $37
  • Sightseeing to Ulundanu temple, banyumala waterfall & Tanah lot: $57
  • Ubud Bali ATV Quad Bike Adventure: $45
  • 3-Days Lombok,Gili island Tour Hopping around departure from Bali island: $300
  • 5 Hours Bali Blue Lagoon Snorkeling Tour Including Tanjung Jepun: $59
  • Alas Harum Bali Cretya Tegalalang Rice Terrace Ubud Swing Ticket: $25
  • Amazing Private Tour: Lempuyang temple, Tirta gangga, Tukad cepung waterfall: $60
  • Bali ATV Adventure: $61
  • Bali ATV Quad Bike Adventure and Snorkeling Tour: $99
  • Bali Benoa Shore Excursion for Cruise's Passenger - All Inclusive: $49
  • Bali Instagram Tour : The Most Popular Spots In Bali: $62

Tours and Activities in Puerto Princesa

For Puerto Princesa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • PPS CITY TOUR: $14
  • Puerto Princesa; Half day City tour: $14
  • Cathedral and Baker's Hill Tour: $14
  • Puerto Princesa City Tour with Snacks: $14
  • Half Day City Tour with Butterfly Garden: $15
  • Half-Day City Tour with Optional Massage: $15
  • Half-day Puerto Princesa City Tour: $15
  • City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $20
  • 2in1 City tour and museum with pick up at hotel or cruise port: $25
  • Half-Day City Tour from Puerto Princesa: $27
  • Puerto Princesa Half Day City Tour (shared tour): $27
  • Shared Half City Tour with SPA: $31

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bali $3.07
    Puerto Princesa $14


When comparing the travel costs between Bali and Puerto Princesa, we can see that Puerto Princesa is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bali Expensive? and Is Puerto Princesa Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bali or Puerto Princesa?

Bali has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Puerto Princesa. When comparing the sizes of Bali and Puerto Princesa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.